Properties of Minerals

Robyn tests a sample of a mineral by rubbing it on a piece of white tile. She observes a yellow mark that is left on the tile. What property of minerals is Robyn testing?

• Streak

• Color

• Luster

• Cleavage

Sonia took a flashlight and shined it on several rocks. She was testing the reflection of light off of each rock. What property of rocks was Sonia testing?

• Luster

• Color

• Cleavage

• Hardness

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Quinn grouped rocks she found on the playground during recess. What property did she most likely use to sort the rocks?

• luster

• color

• hardness

• cleavage

Which of these correctly explains the relationship between rocks and minerals?

• Minerals are the basic building blocks from which nearly all rocks are made.

• Rocks are materials found on the surface of Earth, and minerals are found only underground.

• Minerals are large structures that can be broken down into smaller pieces, called rocks.

• When rocks are heated to very high temperatures, they are changed into minerals.

Which of the following best describes cleavage?

• The crystal size in a mineral

• The color inside a mineral

• The way a mineral breaks

• The way a mineral was formed

Scientists test for the hardness of a mineral by doing which of the following?

• Measuring the mass of the mineral and comparing it to other minerals of known hardness

• Observing the color of the mark the mineral leaves on white tile of known hardness

• Observing the color of a mineral and comparing it to other minerals of known hardness

• Scratching the mineral against other substances of known hardness

Black, brown, red, gray, and blue are words that can describe what property of a mineral?

• luster

• cleavage

• hardness

• color

Laney was trying to identify a mineral using its properties. So far she has made the following list:

Color: brassy yellow

Streak: black

Which of the following is NOT another property that is usually used to identify minerals?

• mass

• hardness

• luster

• cleavage

Which of the following does NOT describe one way rocks and minerals can be related?

• A rock can be made up of more than one kind of mineral.

• A mineral can be made up of more than one kind of rock.

• A rock can be made up of only one kind of mineral.

• A sample of a mineral can be a rock

The table here shows information on the properties of two minerals.Based on the data in the table, the most reliable way to tell the difference between hematite and magnetite would be by using which property?

• color

• luster

• streak

• hardness

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2